Annette remained in her seat, forcing a smile and nodding whenever the bassist from Kill the Cult addressed her, but she had a hard time keeping her eyes off Connor. As pissed off as she was at Connor for playing into North’s hand the way he had, she couldn’t help but feel bad when Winter’s Wrath’s lead singer, Brave, laid into him.

She’d caught bits of the conversation. Apparently, Connor was on probation. No one was going to put up with him getting in fights anymore. And Brave didn’t care that Connor had just been trying to stop Quinton from destroying North.

Finally, Kace stepped in. He looked nervous at first, a little intimidated by Brave, but held his own as he defended Connor, saying he couldn’t have pulled Quinton off North without Connor’s help.

At that, Brave cut the rant short, abruptly crossing the room and taking off downstairs.

Over in the corner, Balthazar exchanged a few words with another of Winter’s Wrath’s security. He remained behind after the other bodyguard left. Then he returned his focus to Connor, his gaze lacking the heat it held before. She’d wondered if the two men had a thing at first, but maybe she was just mentally shipping them—like a dreamy teen matching up her favorite anime characters.

They would look good together, but they were polar opposites. A bodyguard and his client made for a cute movie, but in real life, shit like that could ruin a career. Balthazar didn’t seem like the type to chance it, even for a guy as hot as Connor.

As Connor started toward her, she bit back a smile.

She, however, had absolutely nothing to lose. If Connor sounded as sorry as he looked, she’d forgive him. Then see if there was any way to salvage this fucked up night.

“Annette, can I talk to you for a minute?” Connor inclined his head at the bassist—whose name escaped her—then cleared his throat. “Please?”

Annette nodded and excused herself, pushing off her chair and following Connor to an empty booth. She slid in, facing Connor, and folded her hands in front of her. Hey, maybe it wasn’t very nice of her, but she had no intention of making this easy on him.

If he wanted her forgiveness, his apology better be damn good.

He cleared his throat again. “I’ve, ugh, fucked girls who belong to other guys. Usually after the guy offers her up in a wager.”

Yeah, not off to a great start, buddy. She arched a brow.

“I mean, they didn’t really belong to the guys. Obviously. Women aren’t property. It was a stupid game.” He raked his hand through his hair, looking around like someone might be able to help him.

From the corner of her eye, Annette caught Balthazar folding his arms over his chest, his intense gaze on her. She glanced over and blew him a kiss.

Protecting Connor from sticking his foot in his mouth was not in his job description.

Balthazar scowled and set his gaze back on Connor.

“None of this matters.” Connor tipped his head back and sighed. “Fuck, I suck at this. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you like you belong to anyone.”

“North didn’t seem to mind.” Annette smiled as the waitress approached their table, bringing them each a beer. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.” Connor said quickly, not touching his beer, but staring at the waitress like she was about to ask him a complicated calculus question. “Is it okay if we sit here? We can move.”

“You may stay.” The waitress smiled, then continued to another table.

Annette frowned, watching Connor as he fidgeted with his bottle, picking at the label, his muscular shoulders hunched. He seemed to be stuck in a place where he thought everything he did was wrong. Not surprising, after the conversation with Brave.

She put her hand over one of his and pulled it to the center of the table. “North pissed me off more than you did, but I accept your apology. You had Kace’s back, so major points there.”

“I wasn’t about to just leave him alone while those two were losing their shit.” Connor shook his head and his lips quirked. “Good to see our band isn’t the only one with issues.”

From anyone else, she might have taken offense, but considering Connor was the only member of his band still up here, she had a feeling he took a lot of the blame for drama with Winter’s Wrath. Whether he deserved it or not. Which fucking sucked.

As the only woman in her own band, people often assumed she complicated things. Couldn’t be North with his huge ego. He belonged.

Only she had Quinton and Orion on her side.

Connor had no one.

Not even the bodyguard, who watched Connor like he wanted to come to his defense, but failed to do so when Brave had been in Connor’s face. Maybe the man had to keep his distance, but that didn’t make Connor any less alone.

Well tonight, he isn’t. She laced her fingers with Connor’s and met his blue-green eyes, a sly smile slipping across her lips. She’d spent so long playing someone else’s game. Why not invite Connor to play hers? “Come dance with me. We’ll pick up a couple of chicks. Have an orgy. Make up. Whatever comes first.”

His jaw nearly hit the table. “You… You want me to be your wingman? Wingwoman? Fuck, I thought you were hitting on me. Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. I have every intention of using you too.” She brought his fingers to her mouth and wrapped her lips around the tip of his index, releasing it with one last lick when he shuddered. “If you’re interested.”

“You like guys and girls?” He wet his bottom lip with his tongue. “Aren’t you worried someone will find out?”

“Why would I be? It’s hot when I do it.” She couldn’t help the bitterness that crept into her tone. Conversations about her sexuality were never fun. But she shoved her resentment aside, considering why he’d asked. “But all I have to worry about is being treated as an extra in some erotic fantasy. Coming out as bisexual could fuck with your career.”

“I’m not—”

She put her finger over his lips. No need to force him to admit anything. She doubted she’d misread the way he kept glancing back at his assigned keeper. “I’m not asking you to expose yourself. I don’t need the details of what’s between you and your security guy. Me, you, and a woman who’s game for a wild night. You’ll look like a stud.” She rose from her seat and slid closer to him, finding confidence she usually only felt when North was paying attention to her. Talking to her like she was the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the world.

That confidence didn’t run deep, but the burning lust in Connor’s eyes convinced her that she didn’t need North to have some fun. To have someone want her.

“Play with me, Connor.” She bit her bottom lip, hoping she sounded like a woman who knew what she wanted. The game could be just as fun without the man who’d dropped her piece on the board before abandoning her.

Connor stood, raking his fingers through her hair and tipping her head back as he whispered against her lips. “I’ve been trying to be so good.” He flicked his tongue over her bottom lip. “You just made me forget why.”

* * *

Connor pulled Annette close, one hand still tangled in her hair as she arched against him, lips parted. He tasted her, gently at first, but she wasn’t in the mood for gentle. She pressed her mouth to his, the slip of her tongue dueling with his, her hands on his shoulders, nails digging in through his shirt. He tightened his grip on her hair in response and she let out a soft moan.

She tasted wild, like the wind whipping across his face as he ran through the mountains, slightly sweet even as it burned with each breath. His cock hardened and he fought the urge to grind his pelvis to hers. She would let him. He had a feeling she would let him fuck her, right here, if he played his cards just right.

Kiss her until she tore at his clothes. Touch her until she was desperately whispering his name, too far gone to care who was watching.

But he wanted to play her game. Her plan to dance and seduce and enjoy so much more than a quickie appealed to the part of him that was restless. Bored. After walking on eggshells for months to keep on the band’s good side, on Brave’s good side, he wanted to abandon all the restraints and follow wherever she would lead him.

With a kiss, she’d erased all his good intentions. He couldn’t even remember what had gotten Brave so pissed off this time.

And he didn’t care.

He shifted back slightly, inhaling roughly and shaking his head. “You still want to dance?”

Her swollen lips curved. “Mmm, major points for asking.”

“I like the way you give out points.” He bent down to brush his lips over hers. “Does that mean I’m good at this game?”

“That remains to be seen.” She slid her soft cheek against his smooth one and whispered in his ear. “There are some hot chicks on the dance floor. Let’s see who can pick one up first.”

His eyes widened. He glanced at the dance floor that had formed at the center of the VIP room as the music had been turned up, agreeing with her assessment of the women there, but more than a little surprised that she was turning this into a competition. “What if we both—”

“Unlikely. Few women like sharing as much as I do.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “But I wouldn’t object to a foursome.”

Damn, where has she been all my life? He grinned at her, taking her hand as they headed for the dance floor. “Keep this up and I may reconsider your proposal.”

She snickered, squeezing his fingers. “You don’t want to marry a woman like me, Connor. I’m trouble.”

“Yes. My favorite kind.” He brought her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “What would a man have to do to keep a woman like you? Can I fill out an application?”

Her cheeks pinkened and she turned to walk backward in front of him, the playful look in her eyes changing in a way he couldn’t quite read.

But her smile never faded. “No one’s ever asked me that before. I’m not sure I can be kept.”

“Then maybe keep is the wrong word.” He’d never had a conversation like this with anyone before. Or much conversation at all. But as he followed her on an erotic hunt for a temporary playmate, all he could think was he didn’t want the night to end like it had with all his past lovers. He didn’t want to act like they hardly knew one another tomorrow. Didn’t want things awkward or cold. He wanted her to smile at him the way she was now. Tease him and suggest naughty fun.

He pulled her to his side as they reached the edge of the dance floor. Watching her instead of the dancers who had drawn her attention.

He leaned close, speaking low. “What would I have to do to continue being your partner in crime?”

She cocked her head, as though considering. Then smirked before slipping into the crowd with one last glance. “Keep up!”

Chuckling, he surveyed the crowd, catching the eye of an exquisite woman with tight black curls and deep olive toned skin. She’d been watching them and didn’t appear put off by how Annette had left him to seductively dance with a slender, pale blonde. He didn’t like the idea of catching anyone unaware with the twisted game. By her smirk, the dark beauty had an idea of what they were up to.

Annette had given him a challenge. He’d never been quite so eager to prove himself to anyone.

Or felt there was no way he could lose.